Apparatus fob treating liquids



Jan. 5, 1937. J. c. GoRDoN APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS Original Filed July 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l u FJn/ ra 77 7 w1 :ihk ,i i j :w z f.. i, n f a 5F25 (ay fnw 4 y m\ T 3 3 M7 z y, 6 n

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Jan' 5 1937 J. c. GoRDoN l Re. 20,227

APPARATUS FOR TREATING LIQUIDS l Original Filed July 15, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n li l| f u l.' 4ummm MIE i mmlmllnulnumig 4? Milwrwmnumlll! W Y Y l swung; 3a w f Fi l w mum it I INVENTOR ATTRNEY Jos /2 Garda/7. l f BY Ressued Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE to Black, Sivalls Bryson, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Maine Original No. 2,003,589, dated June 4, 1935, Serial No. 680,522, July 15, 1933.

Application for reissue November 2, 1936,.Serlal No. 108,812

BClaims.

My'invention relates to an apparatus lor treating liquids and more particularly the iluid ilow from an oil well where water 4is present in association with oil either `in free state, or in various degrees of emulsion. and has for its principal object to eiilciently and economically dehydrate the oil. l

While the original now from an oil well may be free from water and' it is only necessary to separate contained gas from the oil, practically all wells sooner or later gradually produce water along with oil and gas owing to encroachment of water into the oil bearing strata or disintegration of the water shut-oils fromupper water containing stratum. 'Ihe ratio of oil and water ilow, as well as the nature o1' their association, will vary through the life ol' the well and it is, therefore, a further object of the invention to Y provide a separating apparatus equipped to handle ilow from the well throughout the characteristic changes of the lluid.

Water and oil associated together become, in many cases, badly emulsled as they enter the well and are propelled to the top. An emulsitled mixture of water and oil that takes place at the entrance to the well, during passage through the well, at the valves at the head of the well, or elsewhere. is so tight an emulsion that the two liquids conform andare not separated, no matter how long they are settled. In such cases chenilcals and/or heat must be applied to the emulsion in order to break it up. It is` a further object of the invention to form a treating or reacting chamber wherein the heat and/or chemicals may act on the emulsion to break it up and allow separate discharge o! the oil andwater.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention. I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a separating apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective view of effecting dehydration of its watercontent.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view through the upper end oi the oil and gas separator portion of the apparatus, particularly illustrating the spray condenser ior eliminating liquid spray carried by the gas that has been separated from the ilow. l

Fig. 4 is a similar cross sectional view through the liquid and gas separator unit, particularly the balde unit for controlling ilow of the uid' in (Cl. 21B-48) illustrating the tangential inlet vof the uld to be treated. g

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the` iloat control chamber through which surplus water is discharged from the separating apparatus, a part o1' the cover plate being broken away to better illustrate the oat and valve arrangement.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a ow treating or separating tank including a vertically arranged cylindrical wall 2 closed at the top by a crown-shaped end 3 and at the bottom by a downwardly curved end l provided with foot members 5 whereby the tank is supported in vertical position at ar point adjacent a ilowing well (not shown).

Extending axially within the tank is a con- -ductor pipe 6 having its lower end secured to the bottom I while its upper end projects upwardly through the center oi' the top 3 to i'orm an oil" and gas separating tower l, the top ol' the tower being closed by a suitable cover 8.

The entire ow of fluid from the well head, not shown, is delivered to the treating tank through a conduit Il connected to a tangentially arranged inlet connection II on the tower 1 at a point 25 spaced above the top of the tank 3 so that the fluid is discharged tangentially of the tower and is caused to whirl around the inner face thereof and to move in a series of spirals toward the bottom of the conductor pipe.

This whirling action of the uidcauses the gas to be crowded toward the'center o! the tower while the liquid is moved outwardly to eiiect separation, the liquid gravitating to the bottom of the conductor pipe and the gas rising in the tower toward the closed end 8 where it passes through a spray condenser I2 wherein any oi.' the spray that may be carried with the gas is removed and returned as a liquid to the bottom of the conductor pipe.

'I'hel spray extractor is best illustrated in Fig. v3 and is shown as including a substantially rectangular housing I3 having spaced side walls Il and I5 connected by an end wall I6 and top and bottom walls I1 and I 8 to leave an open side I9 opposite to the end wall I6 through which the gas is admitted to the interior of the extractor. Extending between the side walls I4 and I5 are rods 20 carrying spaced bailies or division plates' 2| terminating short of the end wall I6 to provide an outlet passageway 22 for the gas which is discharged through a'lateral pipe 23 extending through the wall of the tower 1.

In order to retard ilow of gas between the division plates 2| to cause it to give up the spray denses upon the bailies 24 and gravitates to a.4

sump Il that is formed in the bottom Il of the housing and through a discharge conduit Il extending downwardly in the center of the tower 1 to a point below the liquid level carried in the conductor pipe.

Flow of gas from the separator through the gas discharge conduit Il is regulated by an automatically operating gas vslve 21 capable of being set tooperateatthepredetermlnedpresmire which is to be maintained in the tower 1. In orderto equalize thegaspressureinthetowerl withthepressureinthetopofthetankLI 20 provide a pressure equaiiaing pipe 2l having its ends communicating with the discharge pipe Il and the top oi the tank I respectively.

The liquid separated in the tower 1 is discharged from the lower end of-the pipel l 25 lthrough oppositely directed outlet nomles 2O and I0 having discharge openings Il arranged to direct flow of the liquid upwardly within the tank i in two parallel streams. as clearly shown in Fig. l, where lt flows vthrough a baille unit Eachofthepansispreferablyof rectangular shape and includes a horizontal top 45 plate 4! and connects spaced depending sides 4l and I4 and ends 4l and 40 forming a downwardly opening channel 41 under the top plate '42. The first pair of pans, designed A. A'. at opposite sides o! the square. are arranged in horl- 50 aontal relation and the side walls 43 are secured to the pairs of legs Il-Il and "-39, respectively, by bolts 48 extending through suitable openingsinangesofthelegsandthroush openings in the sides of the pan, as clearly shown mima. Theemisor.enepansllandA'are' supported irom the pairs oflegs lI-Sl and 4l-4i, respectively, by fastening devices extending through the ends 4l and 4l of the pans.

ThenextupperpairofpansBandB' arearranged at opposite sides of the square ywith their longimdinaisidewallssecuredtothepairsof securedtothepalrsoflegI-Mdu-Ul."

lthe tank i. with the conductor pipe depending 32 to give up its water content, as now to be de-v Vthewall2atapointabovvethevvaterleveland -theleverilispivotallymoimtedonarockshaft andextendingupwardlywithintl'ietankIto `an-openupperendllthroughwhiehthepressure 'Iherernainingl pcintabovethstopoi'thebsllsunitandinalign- In order to space the unit centrally within within the inner hollow square formed by the pans. the lower ends of the pairs of legs just described. are secured to plates n adapted to be attached to the bottom 4, as shown in Fig. i.

The inner side wall at one end of each pan is provided with a series ofv V-shaped notches Bi extending therealong at a distance somewhat less than the width of the pan directly above to form outlets for movement of the liquid from baille to baille, as later described.

In order to prevent air from being trapped under the pans. each plate 42 is provided with an aperture I1 preferably located at the same end as the notches li.

The baille unit lust described is submerged in a body of water I3 carried in thetank and extendlngtoa pointabovethetopsetoiballes :nd G', as indicated by the heavy dotted lines lig. 1.

The height of water is maintained at a prel determined level by a hydrostatic head of water carried in the discharge pipe li which is arrangedtocounterbalancethebodyofseparated oil It carried abovethebodyof water I3.

'I'hewaterdischarge or overflow pipe ilispreferably arranged vertically within the tank I ad- Jacenttheinnersidewalllthereofandhasits lower end connected to a horizontal pipe section I1havingoneendxedinanopeningllinthe tankwallanditsoppositeendprovidedwitha depending L Il having its inlet III located lust abovethebottom of the tank atits lowest point.

Theopeninguisnormallyclosedbyaplugi whichmayberemovedfromtimetotimetoclean out the overflow pipe or to drain the fluid from The upper end of the overflow pipe extends throughaiioatchamberl! thatismountedin which includes a rectangular shaped housing havingonesideproiectingbeyondthewalland closedbyaremovableplatellcarryinganoutiet pipel4andavaivelevermecbanisln,theplats beingsecuredtothefioathousingbysuitable fastening devices Il, asbestillustratedin Fig'.5.

The inlet ofthepipeisprovided withasuitablevalve 01 thatisoperablehyafioatlever ll in response to movement of a float Il, the float lever il being connected with the valve I1 through suitable linkage.asshown in Pig. 5, and

1l' rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket Il carried by the. plate 48.

Therockshaftproiectsfromthebearing bracket and carries a weighted lever arm 12 for approximately counter-balancing the weight of the float and to indicate the relative position of the oat exteriorly of the tank.

Connectedwiththetopofthedoat chamber engagethetoplisagasequaliserpipehaving inthedoatchamberisequalisedwiththepressmeearriedinthstanklandintheoil'andgas separatortower'l.

Inoran-nimmsttnehyerommieman:mure'L column of. fluid carried in the overnow pipe ll. the upper `end of the overflow pipe terminates withinthevalvechamberandis provided with a Ycoupling Il for attaching variable length pipe nipples 1l to provide the desired height for the cohnnnofiiuidtomaintainthewaterlevelata ment with a bottom sediment discharge pipe 51 that is connected in an opening 58 in the side wall 2 m'eferably at a point opposite to the overflow Dille- The body of separated oil 56 carried above the body of water overflows into a iioat chamber 'I9 which is mounted in the side wall of thetank similarly to the oat chamber previously described and which is provided with a notched opening 80 formed in the housing to provide a weir maintaining a fixed height of liquid in the tank.

The oil, upon overflowing into the float chamber, is discharged through a pipe 82 under control of a valve operated by a oat 83, similar to the float mechanism previously described.

In order to insure that the pressure in the tank I does not greatly exceed a predetermined pressure, as set by the gas valve 2l, the top of the tank carries a pop valve ill set to discharge at a pressure above the set pressure of the valveli, and to relieve the tank in case of sudden increases in pressure beyond the capacity of the pop valve, as in the case of sudden gush of fluid through the inlet pipe 9, the top of the tank is also provided with a frangible diaphragm 'having ample outlet capacity to prevent explosion of the tank.

The tank may also be provided with suitable fittings such as a pressure gauge 86, sight' gauges yl1 and 88, through which the respective liquid levels may be observed, and a thermometer 89 for indicating the temperature f the body of wash water contained in the bottom ofthe tank.

In order to heat the body of water 53 to reduce the viscosity of the liquid and aid in its dehydration, the tank may be provided with an outlet pipe 90 located adjacent the bottom and a water inlet pipe 9i, by which the water may be passed through a suitable water heater, not shown.

In operating an apparatus constructed and assembled as described, vvthe tank is illled with water to the level of the pipe 11.

'I'he flow pipe 9 is then connected to the ow head of the well so that when the fiow head is open a discharge from the well will flow through kthe pipe 9 for tangential'discharge into the oil and gas separator portion of the tower l.

The oil and water will whirl about the wall of the tower to crowd the lighter gas to the center of the tower where it rises for passage through the spray condenser. When the gas moves through the spray condenser, any spray carried by the gas will be gravitated therefrom and returned through the pipe 26 to the lower end of the conductor pipe.

The liquid is discharged fromthe lower end ,of the conductor pipe in divided streams through thenozzles 29 and 30 which are located directly under the lower baffles A and A'. Upon discharge from the nozzles, the liquid, being of lighter specific gravity than the wash water, vgravitates upwardly therethrough until it is by the lower surfaces of the plates 42 of `thebaiiies A and A'.

The liquid will then travel along the surfaces Vof the plates and accumulate thereunder until` it isv of suiiicient depth, when it will-'trickle through the notches I, and again rise upwardly'through the body of water until stopped by the bailies B and B'L The liquid will then flow along the baiiies B and B to outlet through the notches 5i therein ,from whence it will again rise to be stopped'by the baiiies C and C' and so on up the tower of battles until the streams of oil emerge from the notches 5I in the upper baiiies G and G'.

The oil, after passing through the body of wash water will collect in the upper end of the 4tank until it has attained sufiicient volume to fiow over the weir 8| into the flow chamber 19 from Where it will be discharged through the pipe 82 by the action of the float 83 when the level in the float chamber reaches the predetermined value set by the float.

It is thus apparent that the liquid ascends in two separate spirals and that it will ascend very slowly due to the arrangement ,of the baiiies whereby the bodies of oil are retained a suiiiclent time to permit thorough treatment and soaking.

If it is found necessary, the viscosity of the liquid may be reduced by treating the body of water upon connecting 'the pipes 90 and 9| with a suitable heater.

If the liquids are emulsied it may be desirable to add a chemical to the wash water for chemically reacting with the emulsion to effect dehydration as the liquid gravitates from baille to baille between the soaking periods, during which the chemical has time to act on the emulsion to effect release of the water content,

The thoroughness with which the bailies automatically expose oil in thin layers between the bubbling stages causes a marked saving in chemicals and in heat necessary for the body of treating water.

As the separated water accumulates, the excess is discharged from the pipe 55 into the float chamber 62 from which it is discharged through the pipe 64 under control of the float 89.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the pan baie arrangement prolongs the washing action of the oil and assures settlement ofthe water after the emulsion is broken so that only dehydrated oil rises to the top of the tank for flow therefrom.

It is also apparent that a, device constructed as described, if installed before a Well starts to ow, will serve merely as an oil and gas separator until water appears, but will be ready without alteration to perform' the treating function described as soon as water starts to ow with the gas and oil.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus of the character described including a tank containing a body of treating liquid, means for delivering liquids to be treated to the body of treating liquid for gravitational fiow therethrough, and a vertical series of inverted and elongated pan members in the tank, each including a top plate having depending sides` forming downwardly opening channels in the path of the gravitational flow of the liquids under treatment for detaining and confining a definite body of the liquids under treatmentffor movement longitudinally through the respective channels in one direction, each of said pan members having a series of outlets in the lower edge of one of its sides near an end thereof to successively direct the flow of the liquidsunder treatment longitudinally through the channels and from each channel to a next in series through said side outlets.

2. Apparatus for separating liquids in a closely associated state including a tank containing a body of treating liquid, means for delivering the associated liquids to the treating liquid for VYgravitational flow therethrough, a vertical series ot inverted and elongated pan members, and means supporting the pan members in the tank with an end of one pan member overlying .the

, opposite end o! a lower pan member in the series to form vertically spaced downwardly opening channels in the'path oi' the gravitational dow of the associated liquids for. connning deiinite bodies of said liquids for movement longitudinally through the respective channels inl one direction, each underlying pan member having outlets at the lower edge and at the end oi' its side located below the overlyingend of an upper pan member for permitting escape of associated liquids from the channel of one pan member to the channel oi an overlying pan member.

3. Apparatus for separating liquids in a closely associated state including a tank containing a body ci treating liquid, means for delivering the associated liquids to the treating liquid for gravitational ilow therethrough, a vertical series o! inverted and elongated pan members having depending sides, and means supporting the pan members in the tank in the form o! a hollow square with the end oi' one pan member underlying the opposite end of an upper pan member to form vertically spaced, downwardly opening channels in the path of the gravitational flow and conilning denite bodies of the liquidator movement longitudinally through the respective channels in one direction, said pan members having outlets in the lower edges oi' their sides at the ends thereof below the overlying ends of relative upper pan members for escape of. the liquids irom one channel, to another in series.

4. Apparatus for separating liquids in a closely associated state including a tank -containing a body of treating liquid. means for delivering the associated liquids to the treating liquid ltor gravitational `iiow therethrough, and a vertical series oi inverted and elongated pan members supported in the tank. each pan member including a top plate having depending sides forming downwardly opening channels in the path o! the gravitational ilow o! the associated liquids for detaining and conning a denite body oi -said liquids for movement longitudinally through the respective sono? channels in one direction, each of said pan members having a series of. notches in the lower edge and near the end o! rits side underlying the channel o! an upper pan member to permit flow oi the associated liquids from a lower channel to an upper channel and along said upper channel for escape through the notches in the side or lthe pan member forming said upper channel.

5,. Apparatus for separating liquids in a closely ted state including a tank containing a body of treating liquid, means for delivering the associated liquids to the treating liquid for gravitational ilow therethrough, a vertical series oi inverted and elongated pan members having depending sides, and means supporting the pan members in the tank in horizontal pairs with the ends oi the pans in one pair underlying the opposite ends'of the pans in a relatively upper pair to form vertically spaced, downwardly opening channels inthe path oi the gravitational flow of the associated liquids and confining deiinite bodi o! the associated liquids for movement 1ongitudinally through the respective channels in one direction, each pan member having outlet in the lower edge oi' one of its sides at the end thereof below the overlying end of the next upper channel to permit escape of the associated liquids from the'channei oi a lower pan to the channel of an upper pan.

6; Apparatus for separating liquids in a closely associated state including a tank containing a body-of treating liquidl means for delivering the associated liquids to the treating liquid for gravitational iiow therethrough, an inverted and elongated pan member supported in the tank including a top plate having depending sides to form a downwardly opening channel within the treating liquid in the path of the gravitational ilow oi' the associated, liquids for detaining, contlning and directing the ilow ot a `definite body of the associated liquids longitudinally through said channel, said pan member having a vent opening in its top plate and a series of notches in the lower edge oi' one of its sides at the end oi' the channel to permit the' escape oi' associated liquids and gravitational flow` thereof through the treating v liquid.

.roem `c. GORDON. 

